Antisticking surface material for fruit



Patented duty i dg AN TISTICKING SURFACE MATERIAL FOR FRUIT RaymondRamont, Los Angeles, Calif.

No Drawing. Original application April 27, 1946, Serial No. 665,432.Divided and this application July 16, 1946, Serial No. 683,977

2 Claims.

My invention relates to antisticking surfacing material for fruit andfruit handling equipment and is a division of my copending application.Serial No. 665,432, filed April 27, 1946. Included in the objects of myinvention are:

First, to provide a material which, when employed as an ingredient in afruit washing solution, produces a protective coatin undetectable exceptfor the fact that the surface of the fruit is rendered nonsticky;

Second, to provide a material which not only inhibits the stickiness ofthe fruit when washed, but also when the material is applied to conveyerbelts and other apparatus which is contacted by the fruit, so conditionsthe surface that sticking of the fruit to the apparatus is materiallyreduced;

Third, to provide a protective surfacing for fruit and processingapparatus contacted thereby which is particularly suitable for dates,raisins and other fruit having high sugar content, particularly highsugar content on their surfaces: and

Fourth, to provide a material of this class which does not introduce anycharacteristic flavor or which does not in any manner injure the fruitor alter its appearance, but instead tends to inhibit or minimizemolding of the fruit.

My protective surfacing for fruit and fruit processing apparatus may beemployed in two ways. Preferably both are used; that is, the fruit maybe washed in a solution containing the material so that a thin coatingof the material is applied over the fruit. In addition, oralternatively, the surfaces of the fruit handling equipment.particularly conveyer belts and similar devices may be covered ordressed with the material.

The material which I have found to be eifective. and infact, remarkablyeifective, is propylene glycol, N. F., and its formula may be expressedas follows:

(IJHOH GEN?" Propylene glycol is a clear, colorless, practicallyodorless, slightly viscous material. While this material has been usedin the food industry as well as in the cosmetic and pharmaceuticalfields as a preservative, as a humectsnt, as a carrier or 2 vehicle forflavors, as a softening agent and other kindred uses, its uniqueproperties which I have discovered have not, apparently, been recognizedheretofore.

I have discovered that propylene glycol is particularly effective in theprocessing of dates. The

dates may be washed in a solution of proylene glycol and water; forexample, the solution may comprise:

Percent Propylene glycol 5 to 25 Water to '75 For particularly sticky oroverripe dates I have found that the addition of ethyl alcohol isbeneficial, particularly in that the amount of propylene glycol may bereduced and thus render the solution less expensive; for example, asatisfactory solution is as follows:

and gently scrubbed, their surfaces are rendered nonsticky, but theirappearance is not altered ex cept that they appear exceptionally cleanand attractive. Even if the most gentle scrubbing were attempted withoutthe propylene glycol in the solution, the scrubbing brushes or whatevermeans is employed or used to clean the dates quickly become clogged withdate particles and a large percentage of the dates are spoiled.Moreover, the dates which are spoiled are usually the riper and, hence,better flavored dates. Thus, propylene glycol is not only useful toprepare the surface of the date itself, but also by reason of its actionon the cleaning apparatus eliminates clogging of the machinery. Whilethe cleaning machinery may be maintained in proper condition by thewashing solution, other handling equipment, such as conveyer belts andthe like, which contacts the dates, either before cleaning or aftercleaning, may best be protected by the use of pure propylene glycolapplied thereto as a dressing.

Thus, it will be seen that propylene glycol is an effective surfacingmaterial either coated on the fruit or on the apparatus contacted by thefruit or on both the fruit and the apparatus.

While the use of propylene glycol has been (11- 2. A washing solutionfor fruit having high sugar content, comprising:

Percent Propylene glycol 5 to Water to 55 Ethyl alcohol to 30 RAYMOND E.RAMON'I.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Uses and Application of Chemicals by Gregory, vol. II. pages 276-7.

